Advancing Genomic Medicine with Alumna Wolu Chukwu

As an installment in The Alumni Feature Series, this article was created through interviews conducted by enthusiastic and inquisitive current students. Their aim is to delve deeper into the experiences and achievements of our thriving alumni.

‍

Introducing Wolu, an alumna originally from Nigeria, whose profound curiosity for science started in high school. Choosing an all-science secondary education and later earning a dual degree in Computer Science and Natural Science at Minerva, Wolu is now a computational biologist at the renowned Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Situated in the academic hub of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Broad Institute, founded in 2004, stands as a collaborative research powerhouse, uniting experts from various disciplines. Wolu's impactful role at the institute involves constructing a classifier – an algorithm used to classify data – to discern between somatic and germline genomic rearrangements in cancer cells—a crucial component in understanding the complexities of where cancer originates in an individual.  

Her journey has been enriched by opportunities in both wet and dry labs, opportunities that were opened first through Minerva’s partnership with Hanyang University in Korea. This collaboration played a pivotal role in shaping Wolu's ability to work in laboratories that deal with “wet” biomatter, such as liquids, drugs, and chemicals as well as in more computational-focused spheres. During a summer internship with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Wolu had the chance to shadow a surgical pathologist, observe analyses of biopsies, and use microscopes to examine tissue for evidence of cancer. This experience allowed Wolu to gain an in-depth look at clinical practice, revealing the immense collaborative effort behind serving patients:“ I was able to experience clinical practice to a much greater degree than I ever had before, appreciate the collaborative effort that goes into administering care, and learned that I wanted to be even closer to the patient in order get that full perspective of how the research we do impacts patients’ lives,” Wolu notes when speaking of that formative time. 

Reflecting on the most rewarding aspects of her current position, Wolu shares her vision for the future impact of genomic medicine on patient outcomes. With this in mind, Wolu is fervently dedicated to realizing her dream of making a tangible impact on patients' lives by pursuing a Doctor of Medicine PhD.  Balancing the demands of rigorous research, she uses her free time to invest in additional classes and clinical volunteering to make her goals a reality. 

In the midst of her ambitious and rigorous academic and professional journey, Wolu still seems to radiate happiness in the vibrant city she calls home – Boston. She attributes her easy transition into adult life to the skills and independence nurtured at Minerva during her student years. Actively engaging with Boston's rich culture and community, Wolu embraces the challenges of her scientific pursuits with a constant sense of joy and fulfillment.

‍

If you were inspired by Wolu's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, apply to join Minerva today.